Director Robert Zemeckis to Return to Live-Action Filmmaking With 'Replay'

Robert Zemeckis, the visionary director behind classics like 'Back to the Future,' 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' and 'Forrest Gump,' is closing in on his first live-action film since 2000's 'Cast Away' with the Warner Bros. thriller 'Replay,' according to Vulture.

Zemeckis has spent the last decade working on elaborate motion-capture animated films like 'The Polar Express,' 'Beowulf' and 'A Christmas Carol.' He's had some success in the genre -- the three films have grossed over $400 million domestically -- but it's nice to see him return to working with flesh-and-blood performers. Zemeckis's work with Tom Hanks, for example, has brought the actor two Oscar nominations (for 'Forrest Gump' and 'Cast Away') and one win ('Gump').

The director had been attached to the Paramount drama 'Flight,' which was to star Denzel Washington. But with Washington not yet signed on for 'Flight' and currently filming 'Safe House,' it seems likely Zemeckis will move forward with 'Replay' first and return to 'Flight' later.